This contributed volume provides an up-to-date overview of the mechanics of granular materials, ranging from sparse media to soils. With chapters exploring state-of-the-art theoretical, experimental, and applied trends in the study of granular matter in various states, readers will be motivated to learn about the current challenges and potential avenues of exploration in this active area of research. Including a variety of perspectives, this volume will be a valuable reference for audiences in a number of fields. Specific topics covered include: X-ray tomography techniques for analyzing sand Evaluation of effective stress in unsaturated soils Hyper-plasticity Wave propagation in granular systems Partly saturated porous media Multi-scale approaches to the dynamics of sparse media Views on Microstructures in Granular Materials is an ideal resource for PhD students and researchers in applied mathematics, solid-state physics, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Laboratory tests were conducted on selected granular materials to determine the velocities of propagation of the shear and compression waves and to evaluate the internal damping. Test variables included the confining pressure, amplitude of vibration, void ratio of the material, saturation, and grain size. Resonant column tests were used for wave velocity evaluation, and the vibration decay method and static torsion tests were used to determine damping. The granular materials used were Ottawa standard sand, two sizes of glass spheres, and a crushed quartz. Confining pressure had the most significant effect on velocities of wave propagation, with velocities increasing about with the 1/4 power of the confining pressure. Damping determined from the decay o steady state vibrations behaved like viscous damping. The values of logarithmic decrement varied from about 0.02 to 0.20 for these materials and test conditions. Higher values of logarithmic decrement were found in the static torsion tests because tresses up to 75 per cent of the failure conditions were used. (Author).